Diversity, equality & inclusion

With the EU Accessibility Act on the horizon, now is the time for organisations to step up and make sure their digital content is accessible before June 2025. Sacha Brinkley explains What is the European Accessibility Act? The European Accessibility Act is a directive to ensure certain products and services are accessible to persons with disabilities. It was transposed into Irish law in 2022 and will apply in Ireland from 28 June 2025. The sectors in scope of this act are commerce (including e-commerce), banking, telecoms, transport and technology. These are very broad and cover a range of companies. For most, e-commerce would probably fall under this legislation, meaning any websites that sell services will need to be accessible. Non-compliance and exemptions There are ramifications for non-compliance, which include: a fine (€5,000) or imprisonment of up to six months or both; a fine of up to €60,000 or imprisonment of up to 18 months or both; or litigation. However, there are some limited exemptions. If your product or service fundamentally changes due to this legislation, or if compliance would create an undue burden for your company, the organisation may be exempt. In both cases, it is essential to ensure you have the proper documentation for the relevant authorities, especially if it leads to litigation. Steps to accessibility With the deadline looming, making digital content and services accessible can be seen as an onerous, overwhelming task. However, there are some practical steps that you can initiate today to help you get ahead of the curve. Stay informed: Stay updated on the latest news concerning the directive and regulations, as this will guide the necessary steps for you or your clients to ensure accessibility. Accessibility audit: Consider conducting an accessibility audit of your online offerings. While this can be expensive and may not be feasible for everyone, it is worthwhile if you have the extra budget. If you are using a third-party service to host your website, such as Wix or SquareSpace, check what accessibility measures they have implemented. Accessibility statement: After your accessibility audit, write an accessibility statement on your website outlining what’s accessible currently, what isn’t accessible, and what you’re working on to make accessible. Invite your users to email you with any concerns or feedback. Being transparent and honest about your accessibility journey will not only demonstrate to users your dedication to inclusion but will also help your case if it comes to litigation. Accessible content: Going forward, make sure all your content is accessible, as well as your marketing. Easy wins The quick wins all involve your digital content. Some require a little more effort than others, but if you can follow these steps then you’ll be well on your way to compliance come June 2025. PDFs When creating PDFs, consider the following: Use accessibility tagging in your PDF so screen readers can navigate your content. This can be done in Word or PowerPoint before exporting to PDF. Write alternative text for every image unless decorative. Provide contact details for an accessible version of your document (for example, in a Word or Excel format) to show that you are being inclusive and compliant. Consider ditching PDFs entirely – could this document be a webpage instead? Images It is important to consider colour contrast. Proper attention to this detail can significantly enhance visual clarity and overall effectiveness in design. You can check colour contrast online. Use text sparingly and make sure your font size is big enough to be legible – at a minimum, the font should be 12pt. Social media and newsletters Always provide alternative text for your images. Write your hashtags in CamelCase. For example, #charteredaccountantsireland should be #CharteredAccountantsIreland. Not only is it easier to read, but you also avoid potentially embarrassing mistakes. Audio and visual When setting up online events, use headphones and a dedicated microphone rather than rely on laptop hardware. This reduces ambient noise and distractions for all users, as well as those with accessibility and sensory needs. Provide captions for your video and transcripts for your audio, as well as a descriptive voiceover when you just have music playing. You may need a sign language interpreter at events where someone deaf is present – check with the attendee first, however. Key takeaways With the rise of artificial intelligence technology and accessibility regulations, we’ll be seeing a digital revolution over the next five years when it comes to digital inclusion. By embedding the steps outlined above in your everyday practices, you’ll get a good head start on your digital inclusion journey. Sacha Brinkley is Content Editor at Chartered Accountants Ireland

Chartered Accountants Ireland was proud to host the launch of Dublin City University Access to the Workplace 2025 in Chartered Accountants House on Pearse Street this week. Now in its sixth year, this award-winning programme provides professional summer internships for DCU Access students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and for neurodivergent students. The launch event, Beyond Bias: Unlocking Future Talent, explored how organisations can develop a workforce that is diverse, inclusive and ready to embrace the possibilities of an unscripted future. Commenting Barry Doyle said  “We are proud partners of this programme and fully support the work DCU do in the area of recognising and supporting those whose potential might otherwise have been overlooked. By opening doors to these talents, DCU and their corporate partners are helping to level the playing field, broaden perspectives, and build a workforce that truly reflects the diversity of Ireland’s future. This event not only shines a spotlight on this hugely impactful initiative but also reaffirms our collective commitment to diversity, inclusion, and innovation in the workplace.”

From the impact of AI to what sport can teach us about making real change in communities, Chartered Star 2024 Evan O’Donnell shares his insights from the One Young World Summit in Montreal. Below, Evan discusses the energy and impact of the four-day youth leadership conference, his key take-aways and how he plans to put them to use going forward. In September, I had the honour to attend the One Young World Summit, "the world's biggest and most impactful youth leadership summit", in the vibrant city of Montréal, Canada. I was extremely proud to represent the chartered accountant profession, the country of Éire and Chartered Accountants Ireland throughout this four-day conference, along with my fellow delegates from Scotland and South Africa, all under the Chartered Accountants Worldwide banner. One Young World united over 250 organisations and over 2,000 young leaders each hoping to gain invaluable insights and work together to help shape the world's future. This year focused on five key global challenges; Indigenous Voices, Climate and Ecological Crisis, Artificial Intelligence, Health Inequality, and Peace and with each speech, workshop and story shared, the urgent need for change was highlighted. The opening ceremony was packed with energy and theatre, but the real highlight was hearing from incredible world activists. Two messages stood out: environmentalist, David Suzuki, who advised “Let’s open both eyes” and also from novelist, ‎Margaret Atwood who encouraged us, simply but profoundly, to “Go for it.” I had the honour of being flag bearer for Ireland, proudly waving my national flag on an international stage alongside representatives of 197 other nations. It was a joy to spend the day with my fellow flag bearers, exchanging our traditional customs, cultural stories and discovering both commonalities and differences within our communities. The other Chartered Accountants Worldwide delegates and I had insightful conversations with people from all over the world, spanning from Ireland to Iran to Texas, Czech Republic and France. Sport and leadership The energy continued as I joined 20 other delegates to participate in Jamad Fiin’s One Young World basketball camp. Fiin runs basketball camps around the world - inspiring the next generation, particularly young women, to stay active and embrace their love of sport. The session proved a perfect way to put teamwork into action, and we learned just how effective communication can elevate performance. This message was echoed throughout the conference but particularly at a standout panel discussion featuring athletes across the sports of rugby, basketball and swimming. Tendai Mtawarira, Jamad Fiin and Ma­­rk Tewksbury shared how they’re leveraging sport as a powerful agent for social change - an inspiring reminder of how sports can unite and empower communities. Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence was at the forefront of many discussions, with numerous insightful perspectives offered. The ESG team from KPMG discussed the profound impact AI will have on humanity and explored just how much it can serve as a tool for good - when ethics and purpose are at the heart of innovation. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau also broached the subject, discussing his perspective on the 'pivot generation'. As the last generation to experience life before AI, we have a unique opportunity to shape its future. Trudeau emphasised the importance of working together to ensure we harness AI to create positive, global change. Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Ressa, shed light on AI’s security risks and challenges, reminding us all to stay vigilant in the face of technological advancements. It would be impossible to accurately summarise all the highlights and learnings across the four days. Still, apart from all mentioned above, two stand-outs were a workshop on inclusive learning, which focused on the importance of making education accessible to every young person, regardless of their background and a discussion from the Zurich Foundation on how economic prosperity can pave the way to peace. If I was pressed to summarise what will stay with me? It would be the phrase echoed across everything that One Young World encapsulates - Collaboration has proven essential for long lasting impact. What next? The closing ceremony, an event just as colourful, inspiring and energising as all that had come before, offered a moment to reflect, with delegates invited to write a singular goal for the upcoming year on a ribbon. These ribbons were joined together to symbolise how goals are achieved when aligned with great unity. To quote the famous phrase, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This experience has opened many pathways, put me in contact with inspiring individuals and given me a wider platform to spread the knowledge gained. I feel proud to be part of an Institute that shares my commitment to protecting the future of our world and I welcome many more opportunities to bring my shared learnings to the broader chartered community.